By Katie D’Onofrio
Virtual yoga classes have taken the internet by storm. And as new yogis and seasoned practitioners discover the joy (and convenience) of yoga right in the comfort of their own homes, this style of practicing won’t be going away any time soon. So whether you’ve just dipped your toe in the water of the virtual yoga pool or already fully embraced teaching through a screen, here are some tips for leading classes on Zoom.
It’s worth noting that there are other platforms you can be using, so feel free to explore your options - but Zoom seems to be the most widely used program not just in this space but as people strive to make connections during quarantine.
1. Security Is Your Friend
“Zoom-bombing” is not just a rumor - with the surge in the platform’s use over the last several weeks, hackers have started paying attention. Zoom offers several security features you can implement in order to keep your class as safe as possible:
Waiting Room. When creating the meeting for your class, make sure you turn the waiting room feature on, and do not enable participants to enter before the host (you). You’ll have to individually approve each attendee who joins your meeting, meaning you’ll see everyone who tries to enter and can choose to turn away anyone who you aren’t expecting. If you are charging for classes this is a great way to make sure no one sneaks in without paying. If you’re offering classes for free, this enables you to make sure no ~unwanted guests~ try to crash your party.
Lock Meeting. When you’re ready to begin your class, you can lock the meeting to prevent new people from joining.
Another way to keep your class safe is by only sharing the class ID information with people you want to be there - do not share the link on social media. This is an invitation for unwanted participants to enter.
2. Practice Your Sequence Exactly Where You Plan to Teach It
Depending on your living situation, you may be teaching in tighter quarters than what you’re used to (looking at you, fellow apartment teachers). So if your studio (apartment) is now your (yoga) studio, roll out your mat right where you’ll be teaching and run through your class to make sure you have enough room to demonstrate your poses.
3. Check Your Camera Angle and Lighting Before You Teach - Not On Camera
Play with the position of your camera ahead of time, making sure your students will have full view of you when you’re lying down, seated, and standing. If you plan to dim your lights during savasana or a meditation, try it out beforehand so you don’t end up leaving your students with a completely blank screen.
4. Do A Quick Run-through With a Friend or Fellow Teacher
You don’t have to go through a whole practice, but have someone on the other side of the screen make sure that you look and sound okay. They can assure that you look and sound okay before you do a class for real, instead of waiting to be live the first time someone else sees you.
5. Mute Your Participants Before You Start Class
When you choose to do this is up to you, perhaps depending on the type of class you’re teaching. If you are teaching a restorative class, a meditation, or another experience where you want to quiet the mood as early as possible, you might mute your students not long after they enter class (give them a moment to ask you questions first, though).
Generally, it’s nice to allow students to talk amongst themselves - and with you - before class begins. Social interaction is much more limited these days, to say the least, so giving your yogis some time to chat and connect before they practice is a nice way to provide them with some of the socialization we are all in need of.
6. Check On Your Students Periodically
Some of your students will be happy to share their video so you can watch their practice, but others will err on the side of privacy and black their screen. Among those who choose to practice on camera, your view of them is still very much limited - you won’t be able to check thoroughly for alignment. But this doesn’t mean you pretend you can’t see anything at all.
Make it a point to look at the screen as much as you can. The benefits here are threefold: you can check for alignment (as best as can be expected online), you will connect more with your students, and you can check for any technical difficulties - more on that in a bit. If you aren’t checking in with your class, you won’t have any idea of what’s happening, and if you leave your students stuck in a chair pose for too long because they can’t hear the next cue, you may no longer be their favorite teacher! (Kidding - half kidding.)
Don’t forget to smile as much as you can!
7. Teach A Safe Class
A lot of students may be eager to use some newfound extra time on their hands to learn a new pose. Or perhaps they’re less intimidated now that they’re not practicing in front of an audience. But you have no way of making sure each student is safe. Now is not the time to teach your beginner yogis how to do a headstand. This is especially important if you’re teaching students whose abilities you are not familiar with.
Similarly, it’s perhaps even more important now than ever to ask your students about any injuries or limitations they may be experiencing. If you have new students dropping in who do not want to speak about it in front of the whole class, ask them to send you a private Zoom chat to fill you in.
Most importantly, remind your yogis that an at-home practice requires a level of trust between student and teacher. Emphasize that while you are all practicing together, you aren’t there to see everything. Make sure your students know to listen to their bodies, come out of a pose if it doesn't feel right, and to always ask questions after class if they have a concern.
8. Make Sure Your Liability Insurance Covers Internet Classes
Check that your policy has you covered should anything go wrong. (You’re insured, right?) Again, you will very much minimize this risk by following number seven!
9. Demo Each Pose
Power yoga teachers, you’re about to find out just how hard your classes actually are (or aren’t!). Always be ready for your students to be looking at you. It’s likely that they will not be watching you on screen the entire practice, so make sure you’re in the pose you’re cueing for when they do look up to see you. Having said that, don’t think that demoing each pose means you need fewer verbal cues - quite the opposite! Since your students likely won’t be looking at you for the full duration of class, your verbal instruction is even more crucial. Talking, teaching, and breathing all at once is not easy, but consider it a way to actually take your own class!
10. Expect The Unexpected
The downside to virtual teaching is that some days, the technology just won’t work with us. Your headphones, computer, or mic may die in the middle of class. You may lose internet while you’re teaching. It’s okay. Just do your very best to take as many precautions as you can ahead of time. Charge your device(s). Leave your computer plugged in while teaching. Ask your housemate(s) to avoid anything that may compromise your connection during classtime. And if something does happen, consider using it as a teachable moment to your class: take a breath and let that shit go. Your students appreciate you and all of your hard work, and if any Karens try to give you shit, remind her that it’s just f*cking yoga.
Katie is a Jersey-based yoga instructor and writer. She believes that yoga is for everybody and every body and loves to bring a sense of lightness, play, and self-discovery to her classes. When she’s not on the mat, she probably has her nose in a book. Follow her on Instagram at @KatieDonof